About

The Reeling for Kids Saltwater Challenge was founded in 2003 by Doug Johnson and several volunteers, in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County.

Doug grew up in the Northwest Boys and Girls Club in Gainesville beginning at age 5 and continuing through age 13.  The Club played a vital role in developing social, academic and athletic skills for Doug and many other kids in Alachua County.  Doug would later use these skills to obtain a scholarship to the University of Florida and play quarterback for the Florida Gators.  He was then drafted out of high school in the second round and played third base for the Tampa Bay Rays.  Doug would later move on to the NFL, playing for a combined seven years with the Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.  As an NFL player, Doug started this tournament to give back to his “Club” and to help young kids in Alachua County receive the benefits and help he received as a kid.

Today, Doug has kept the Gainesville area his home, settling in the area with his wife Tara and two kids.  Doug is the owner of Johnson & Fletcher Insurance in Gainesville.  Reeling for Kids has become the primary fundraising source for the local Boys & Girls Clubs and has grown into one of the largest saltwater fishing tournaments on Florida’s Gulf Coast. 2024 was our biggest year to date!

The tournament has a volunteer Board of Directors made up of business professionals, Boys & Girls Club staff, and other volunteers who help make this event bigger and better every year.

Our goal is to grow the tournament every year and to keep it a fun, safe, family-friendly event that contributes to the kids in our communities.  We want our sponsors to receive goodwill and good return from our event, helping them brand their businesses with one of the fastest growing charities in Central Florida.  We want our participants to enjoy a growing base of prize money and other benefits, bringing them back year after year.

We hope you will become a part of this special Reeling for Kids event. For more information on Reeling for Kids, to become one of our sponsors, to join our team as a volunteer, or to enter the tournament, please contact Emily Simmons at 352- 284-1377 or email her at emily@birdrack.com.

• IMPORTANT DATES & CONTACT INFO •

Tournament: Friday & Saturday, June 6th & 7th, 2025
Steinhatchee Marina at Deadman’s Bay

Written Correspondence and Payment Address:
Reeling for Kids, Inc.
2130 NW 133rd Terrace
Gainesville, FL 32606
Phone: 352-284-1377 (Emily Simmons)
Emily Simmons  at emily@birdrack.com